Gesundheitswesen 2020; 82(05): 465
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709003
Vorträge und Poster

Wheelchair users satisfaction with the prescribed wheelchairs and wheelchair services in Croatia

S Štefanac
1   Medizinische Universität Wien, Institut für Outcomes Research, Zentrum für Medizinische Statistik, Informatik und Intelligente Systeme, Wien, Österreich
2   Medizinische Universität Wien, Zentrum für Public Health, Abteilung für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin, Wien, Österreich
,
I Grabovac
3   Medizinische Universität Wien, Zentrum für Public Health, Abteilung für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin, Wien, Österreich
,
S Fristedt
4   Department of Rehabilitation, ARN-J Aging Research Network, Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
 

Purpose To determine the wheelchair users’ satisfaction with prescribed wheelchairs and wheelchair services in Croatia.

Methods An online survey was distributed among members of the Croatian Paraplegic and Tetraplegic Alliance. One hundred-four participants were included in the analyses using non-parametric statistics.

Results Most participants were satisfied with wheelchair dimensions (n = 84;81 %), functionality (n = 80;77 %), easiness to use (n = 81;78 %), comfort (n = 69;66 %) and wheelchair parts adjustment (n = 64;62 %). Individuals satisfied with wheelchair characteristics were also more engaged in the activities of everyday living than participants who were not satisfied. Significant activity participation was found in the following activities: bathing/showering (χ2 = 7.02;df = 1;p = 0.017), transfers (χ2 = 8.49;df = 1;p = 0.01), bladder/bowel management (χ2 = 17.77;df = 1;p < 0.001), food preparation (χ2 = 8.34;df = 1;p = 0.004), eating (χ2 = 9.33;df = 1;p = 0.014) and doing household chores (χ2 = 13.28;df = 1;p < 0.001). Fifty-seven participants (54.8 %) had received wheelchair assessment and were also predominantly satisfied with the assessment (n = 51;90 %), selection process (n = 49;79 %), equipment trial (n = 24;80 %), education/skills training (n = 40;89 %) and the fitting process (n = 38;86 %). Participants who received wheelchair assessment and skills training felt safer when using wheelchairs (χ2=6.13;df=1;p=0.013). Majority of the participants were unsure where to ask for second opinions regarding wheelchair assessment (n = 80;77%) and where to seek wheelchair support groups (n = 78;75 %).

Conclusions Satisfaction with wheelchairs and wheelchair services leads to more involvement in the activities of everyday living and increases feelings of safety.



Publication History

Article published online:
26 May 2020

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York